Category Archives: Aviation

In its recently-updated guidelines, Ministry of Civil Aviation has advised airline operators to accept only those passengers who are carrying a negative RT-PCR test report with QR code for boarding international flights departing from lndia May 22 onwards. This will ensure minimum physical contact and smooth movement of passengers.

In a bid to curb the spread of the new COVID-19 variant, the European Union has urged all countries of the bloc to halt all non-essential travel from India. “It is important to limit to the strict minimum the categories of travellers that can travel from India for essential reasons and to subject those who may still travel from India to strict testing and quarantine arrangements,” it added.

Etihad Airways has introduced its ‘Verified to Fly’ travel document initiative for travellers flying from Abu Dhabi with Etihad Airways. The move enables travellers to validate their COVID-19 travel documents before arriving at the airport. Future developments are in progress to introduce the service for other destinations.

Regional carrier TruJet has secured Andhra Pradesh Government nod for viability gap funding (VGF) to continue its Chennai- Kadapa-Vijayawada and Vijayawada-Kadapa-Chennai routes for one more year starting from May 1, 2021. The State Cabinet approved a move to provide about Rs 20 crore per year as VGF by the state government.

Indian carrier Vistara will fly to the Japanese capital Tokyo from New Delhi June 16 onwards. The weekly flight will depart from Delhi every Wednesday at 03:00 hrs, while the return flight will depart from Tokyo every Thursday at 17:50 hrs. The airline will fly once a week between the two capital cities under India’s travel bubble agreement with Japan. The airline will use its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft with three-class cabin configuration to serve the route. This makes Vistara the only Indian carrier to offer the choice of flying Premium Economy class in addition to Business and Economy cabins. Vistara has also trained its cabin crew in the Japanese language to extend the warmth of true Indian hospitality to travellers from Japan. Leslie Thng, Chief Executive Officer, Vistara, said, “Far East has been an extremely important geography for our global expansion from the beginning for its tremendous growth potential. We are delighted to add Japan to our international network, under the travel bubble and  look forward to providing the best of Indian hospitality while maintaining the highest standards of safety and hygiene for our customers on this sector.” Bookings for the flights are being progressively opened on all channels, including Vistara’s website, mobile app, and through travel agents. Introductory, all-inclusive, round-trip fares between Delhi and Tokyo are as follows:   Route Economy Premium Economy Business Delhi–Tokyo-Delhi INR 45,049 INR 73,699 INR 150,399 Tokyo–Delhi-Tokyo JPY 90,099 JPY 184,699 JPY 410,999   SCHEDULE OF FLIGHTS TO AND FROM TOKYO HANEDA: Sector Flight No. Day of Operation Departure Arrival Delhi (DEL) – Tokyo Haneda (HND) UK083 Wednesday 0300 Hrs 1450 Hrs Tokyo Haneda (HND) – Delhi (DEL) UK084 Thursday 1750 Hrs 2335 …

Emirates has suspended passenger flights from India until May 31, 2021. UAE nationals, holders of UAE Golden Visas and members of diplomatic missions who comply with the revised published COVID-19 protocols will be exempt for travel. Those with cancelled bookings can retain their ticket for a future flight or rebook their flight for another date.

Akbar Al Baker, Group CEO, Qatar Airways, has said that while they are keen to pick up stake in Indian low-cost carrier IndiGo, which he regards as the country’s largest and most efficient airline, the present may not be the right time for it. The Group CEO says that India continues to be a strategically important market for Qatar Airways.

Recovery in domestic and international travel has been delayed by three and six months, respectively, due to COVID resurgence, says India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra). Besides, 2021 has brought three new challenges such as higher fuel expenses, rising competition intensity, and likely pressure on airline yields as the scramble for market share realignment to pre-COVID period begins.

CAPA India has said that the chances of a successful divestment of Air India may be less certain as of May 2021. It furthe said that the Government would need to at least have a plan B ready. Earlier, CAPA India in January 2021 had mentioned that the government’s commitment to privatisation of Air India and airports is laudable.

Air India’s pilots’ union, the Indian Commercial Pilots’ Association (ICPA) has threatened that they will stop work if Air India does not arrange Pan-India vaccination camps for all flying crew above the age of 18 years on priority. The pilots body has also written to Civil Aviation Minister, Hardeep Singh Puri seeking restoration of their pre-COVID-19 monthly pay.